Dr. William S. Husak, who was hired as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in 1998, is his 19th year at Loyola Marymount University in 2016-19. Those 19 years just happen to be the most prolific in LMU Athletics history as Husak has focused on his mission of winning championships, achieving success in the classroom through graduating all student-athletes in four years and helping them grow as individuals as they move on to the next stages of their life.

Since 1998, LMU has seen its most overall success in school history as the Lions have claimed 34 of its overall 47 conference championships (among sports currently sponsored by LMU within NCAA Division I competition) and 45 of its 67 NCAA postseason appearances.

Off the field, the Lions continue to rank among the best in the West Coast Conference and in the west in the NCAA's APR and Graduation Rate.

In 2015-16, the program continued to add to its history with:

 LMU women's soccer team finished 2nd in the WCC and made the Sweet 16 round beating both the University of California and the University of Minnesota before losing to West Virginia University in the Round of 16. The team finished ranked #32 in the country.

 LMU volleyball also made the Sweet 16 beating Colorado State University and Stanford University before losing to the University of Kansas. The Lions finished ranked 19th in the country.

 The first phase of the Lions Softball batting cage project was completed allowing for enhanced training experience for our athletes and the opportunity to bring the community on to campus to train as well.

 The year also marked the installation of new video boards and video scorers tables in Gersten Pavilion. The new boards add to the game experience for players and fans.

Husak attributes the success that has come on the field and classroom from the commitment to athletics from the University as a whole and people within it.

"It is people that make up this University and this Athletics Department so special," said Husak. "It is everyone as a team that makes us successful. It is everyone here at LMU that allows us to have the success and growth we have seen the last 19 years. It is all about the people and why LMU is a very special place."

Since he took over the program, the coaching and administrative staffs that lend support to the more than 400 student-athletes has more than doubled in size with the addition of assistant coaches, support staff and the transition from part-time to full-time coaches. A full-time head coach will lead every NCAA sport sponsored at LMU. When Husak took over, only nine of the programs were led by full-time head coach.

In addition, support for the student-athletes was enhanced with the addition of 14 brand new staff positions since 2000, which included two athletic academic support staff members, marketing/promotions manager, ticket manager, corporate relations manager, three assistant athletic trainers, two strength and conditioning assistant coaches, an assistant compliance director and two media relations staff members.

The final major piece to LMU Athletics' growth and success has been through the University's commitment to facilities. Since he has taken over, $29 million has been put into athletic facilities. That list includes the brand new Lions' Athletic Center, the Leavey Center, the Burns Aquatics Center, Smith Field, the addition of lights to Page Stadium and Sullivan Field, and the installation of a new state of the art scoreboard in Gersten Pavilion this year to name a few.

Lights installed in the summer of 2013 on Page Stadium and Sullivan Field gave LMU its first night game outside on campus in its NCAA Division I history.
The new Lions' Athletic Center includes the 6,000-square foot Chad and Ginni Dreier Strength and Conditioning Center, the new hub of activity of student-athletes. In addition, the Burns Center was used as host to the 2002 and 2006 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championships. It has been the only time LMU has hosted an NCAA championship.

As for the Leavey Center, it houses the offices and team suite areas of all sports except the aquatics programs, who are in the Burns Center. The University dedicated more than 7,000 square feet within the Center for the Athletics Department, giving the 21 programs top-of-the-line offices and work space.

Facility enhancements have also included the Thomas Higgins Short Game Center (golf), the Morris A. Pivaroff and George P. Kading Tournament Court (tennis), and the Jane Browne Bove Boathouse. LMU's existing facilities have also seen their share of growth, including new bleachers and scoreboard to Sullivan Field (soccer), Mikos Blue Monster and Pride Park to Page Stadium (baseball), and a new sound system, floor design, bleachers and scoreboard in Gersten Pavilion. In addition, the lobby and restrooms within Gersten Pavilion were renovated as well as new locker room suites in Gersten Pavilion for volleyball and basketball as well as a renovated Athletic Medicine area. On the horizon will be the construction of a new batting facility for softball.

Husak comes from a long and accomplished background as an administrator, fundraiser and professor during a 19-year career at California State University, Long Beach. Between 1993-1998, he served as the Senior Associate Athletics Director and was mainly responsible for Athletics fundraising. While at CSULB between 1983 and 1997, Husak served as an assistant commissioner for the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Between 1986 and 1993 he served as chairman of CSULB's physical education department. As an associate professor of physical education at CSULB between 1979 and 1986, he established the university's Motor Behavior Laboratory.

A 1972 graduate of State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland, Husak holds a master's degree and Ph.D. in Physical Education from Texas A&M University. He and his wife of 44 years, Tish, live in Long Beach and have three married sons and seven grandchildren.